About Green Advantage Building Practitioners Property Owners Green Government Newsletter

Welcome to Green Advantage®

Green Advantage®, the country’s longest-standing green certification for builders and building-related practitioners, offers three certification exams:

  • Commercial
  • Residential
  • Commercial/Residential

Green Advantage Certified Practitioners (GACPs) have passed one or more exams, demonstrating their knowledge of the latest in green building principles, materials and techniques. Green Advantage Certification helps builders get jobs, contractors win bids, and allows building occupants to enjoy healthier, more efficient homes and buildings.


Individual Green Advantage (GA) Exams are offered nationwide at conveniently located testing centers.  While attending a training event is not required to sit for the exam, it is always recommended. Preparatory training courses and workshops are developed and delivered by organizations independent of Green Advantage. Group administered Green Advantage (GA) Exams may be coordinated with these events.

>> Learn more about becoming a Green Advantage Certified Practitioner (GACP) now!

 

Who is GA Certification for?

  • Construction Workers (of all trades)
  • Contractors, Subcontractors and Crews
  • Architects, Designers and Engineers
  • Developers and Real Estate Professionals
  • Planners, Code Officials and Governmental Officials
  • Property Managers and Facility Managers
  • Energy Raters, Retrofitters and other Green Consultants

GA’s holistic and foundational approach ensures that Green Advantage Certified Practitioners (GACPs) understand how their work is connected to the rest of the building process, encouraging more collaboration on projects and more efficient, greener results.

>> Read more about the Green Advantage mission

 

Building Soon?

>> Find a Green Advantage Certified Practitioner (GACP) near you in our online directory

 

Organizations Providing Training for the Green Advantage® Certification Exams:

Green Advantage will post preparatory trainings for the Green Advantage Certification Exam that academic and professional organizations schedule.  Find out more about offering training. 

Organizations wishing to list GA preparatory training events or products on the GA website should review the following: How to Post a Workshop on the GA website 

Green Advantage, as a certifying body, does not offer, endorse or authorize trainings.  Academic or professional organizations interested in providing training are encouraged to become thoroughly familiar with the Certification Exam Overview (click here) and the Green Advantage Open Book Exam Reference in order to prepare curricula and prepare for delivering training.  Green Advantage Certification is also encouraged for anyone preparing curricula or training students. 

 

Thinking Globally, Acting Locally


At the local level, individual homeowners and commercial property owners directly benefit from green building practices: lower energy bills, lower water bills, and healthier longer-lasting homes. But the cumulative effect of large-scale green building can have enormous benefits for the community, the nation and the planet.

 

Green Advantage Open-Book Exam Policy

Upon exam registration and payment, exam candidates will receive the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference.  This newly developed resource has been designed to aid exam candidates in their preparation for the exam and is permitted within the exam setting. Meant to complement additional training materials, not to replace them, the Open Book Exam Reference should not to be considered a standalone training manual or curriculum guide.  While training is not required prior to sitting for the exam, it is highly recommended.  Resources and materials from training workshops, classes, or study sessions are also permitted and may be referenced within the exam setting– including trainee manuals, guides, handouts, and notes. 

Individuals have one year from the time of registration to sit for the exam.  As resources and exam questions are updated regularly, it is recommended that exam candidates waiting longer than 3 months to take the exam after registering request and review the most current version of the Green Advantage® Open Book Exam Reference.  Please email requests to exams@greenadvantage.org including your original registration date.

(Once certified, GACPs may also request and receive at any time free updated copies of the Open Book Exam Reference.  Please submit your request to exams@greenadvantage.org.)

Note that this and all other policies and procedures are subject to change at any time by Green Advantage®, Inc.  The Green Advantage® website, Open Book Exam Reference, exam and other materials, policies and procedures are continually being improved; input from training organizations, faculty and curriculum developers is encouraged and welcome. Ideas, concerns and suggestions may be forwarded to suggestions@greenadvantage.org


The Bainey Group, Inc. “LEEDs” the Way in Minnesota:
CEO, Brad Bainey, Credits Green Advantage Program with Ability to Earn LEED Innovation Credit for Smetana Business Center Project
View Story  
 

AIA Sustainable Design Learning Units (LUs) may be    self reported for time spent taking your Green Advantage Exam.

LEED Credential Maintenance Program will award 1 Continuing Education (CE) hour for your Green Advantage Certification earned within the reporting period - recognizing successful completion of a training program related to or supporting green building. 

 
 
 

Quick Links

 
Register for Exam
   
Benefits of Certification
Overview of Certification Exam
Recertification Information
Info for Training Providers
GA Logo/Name Usage Rules
Green Advantage and LEED
green arrow Sample Language for Bids & Specifications
   
 

 

Colorado Governor Announces State-Wide

Green Advantage Certification Program

View the Press Release


University of Florida Study Confirms Benefits of

Green Advantage Certification

View the Press Release


Pursue Economic Stimulus Money for

Green Advantage Training and Certification

click for details


Job Corps Taps Green Advantage to Help Train Nation’s Youth in Green Building

View the Press Release

 

 
 

Upcoming Training Events

 
  Trainings are delivered by organizations that are independent from Green Advantage (GA).  GA highly recommends training in preparation for the Certification Exams, but does not authorize, endorse or hold responsibility for trainings.  The trainings below represent only those that Green Advantage has been requested to list.
   
green arrow 1/15 & 1/22/2010 Honolulu, HI
green arrow 1/23  West Palm Beach, FL
green arrow 1/26  E Norriton, PA
green arrow 1/29 & 30  Louisville, KY
green arrow 1/30  Miami/Medley, FL
green arrow 1/31  Fort Lauderdale, FL
2/4 - 3/4  Grand Rapids, MI
green arrow 2/5 & 2/12  Honolulu, HI
green arrow 2/10 & 2/17  New Castle, DE
green arrow 2/10  State College, PA (Penn State)
green arrow 2/12  Palmetto, FL
green arrow

2/13  Miami, FL                                          (seat based workshop or webinar)

green arrow 2/19 & 2/26  Boulder, CO (2-day training)
green arrow 2/22  Abington, PA (Penn State)
green arrow 2/23, 24, 25  Bristol, PA
green arrow 2/27  Ft Lauderdale, FL                              (seat based workshop or webinar)
green arrow 3/2, 3/3, & 3/4  Bristol, PA
green arrow 3/3  Fayette, PA (Penn State)
green arrow 3/3  Manheim, PA
green arrow 3/6, 13, 20, 27 & 4/3  Middletown, VA
green arrow 3/9  Wilkes Barre, PA (Penn State)
green arrow 3/11  Knoxville, TN
green arrow 3/12 & 3/19  Honolulu, HI
green arrow 3/16 Coconut Creek, FL
green arrow 3/18  San Antonio, TX
green arrow 3/24 & 3/26  New Castle, DE
green arrow 3/25   Cleveland, OH
green arrow 4/13  Dubois, PA (Penn State)
4/14 - 5/12  Grand Rapids, MI
green arrow 4/15  Miami, FL
green arrow 4/23 & 4/30  Honolulu, HI
green arrow 5/5  New Orleans, LA
green arrow 5/7 & 5/14   Honolulu, HI
green arrow 5/20  Cleveland, OH
6/3 - 7/1  Grand Rapids, MI
green arrow 6/24 Lake Worth, FL
green arrow 7/22  Cleveland, OH
   
 

* Signifies Commercial/Residential

  * Signifies Residential Training
  * Signifies Commercial Training
   
   
 

Additional Exam Prep

 
Webinar Training -

Commercial/Residential -      

Concise-Courses.com or see Feb listings above

 
Online Training
Commercial/Residential
BecomingGreen, Inc. 
 

Additional Print & Media Resources

Residential -
David Johnston/What's Working
 
 
 

Private Workshops

 
Private workshops have been hosted by companies such as:  The Bainey Group, Boldt Technical Services, Bovis, Case Design, W.S. Cumby, Flintco, GBCA, Geisinger, Hankin Group, Irwin Leighton Construction, Liberty Property Trust, Pepper Construction, and Turner Construction.
 
 
Bruce Hammond
Hammond Fine Homes
"Green Advantage is a great way for builders to learn about green building principles & practices."
 
 

Commercial and Residential Property Owners

 
Why use a certified builder?
Locate a certified builder
   
   
Denis Hayes
Earth Day Founder

"Green Advantage Certification represents an excellent way that building related practitioners can demonstrate their knowledge in green building."
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